Platform construction



Jan. 5, 1943. H. E. MlLz x-:rAL

PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION- Filed July 29, 1940 wm S wl -Il H l i M iPatented Jan. 5, 1943 PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION Harold E. Milz and John J.Sichman, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to The Mercury Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application July zo, 1940, serial No. 348,176

(ci. 24e-12o) 9 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates in general toa platform, and is moreparticularly concerned with improvements in a fabricated frame for theplatform which may be constructed from light stock members in such a wayas to provide an extremely an improved frame for platforms having novelfabricated frame forming parts of standard stock material, which arereinforced and strengthened in a novel manner by pocket forming members.

Still another object is to provide a frame struc.- ture of stockmaterials, wherein the parts of the frame are so associated as to form anovel flooring Support.

Other Objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed d'escription, takenl in connection with theaccompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof,and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a platform embodying the features of thepresent invention, the platform being applied in this instance to atruck construction, portions of the platform flooring being cut away toindicate certain constructional details;

Figure 2 is a side-elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through 35 the platform, takensubstantially on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view showing the platform frame ininverted position and the manner in which it is adapted to support ametal flooring;

Figure 5\is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing the manner inwhich the frame side members are reinforced and strengthened, andpockets provided therein, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of the frameside structure, showing the manner in which skid legs may be attachedthereto. As shown on the drawing:

The present invention has been found to be generally advantageous inplatform constructions of either the movable or fixed type, and embodiesinherent features that make it especially adapted trucks and otherdevices of like nature now widely used in the industrial handling ofmaterials, freight and the like.

For purposes -of illustration in the drawing, the invention in thepresent instance is primarily disclosed as being embodied in a movableplatform which forms a part of a trailer or car, although it will beappreciated` that the invention may be utilized in the construction ofplatforms generally.

A trailer, as generally shown at I0, is provided with a frameconstruction embodying the features of the present invention. This framecomprises a substantially rectangular structure formed of a standardstock material such as an angle-bar. This angle-bar, as indicated at II,is bent to form sides I2-I2 and ends I3I3 on the frame structure,-andthe angle-bar is so disposed that one of its legs, preferably of greaterlength than the other leg, forms a peripheral vertical flange I4, whilethe other leg I5 forms an inwardly extending horizontal flange.

Although it would be possible to construct the sides and ends of theframe structure from a single angle-bar with the ends brought togetherin abutting relation, it is preferred to provide this portion of theframe structure in two sections and join the ends of these sections inabutting relation by means of securing plates IG-I which extend over thejoints between the sections and are rigidly secured in -any appropriatemanner as by welding, riveting or the like.

Extending longitudinally Aof the rectangular frame structure, there areprovided a plurality of laterally spaced rail members I'I and I8 whichare secured at their ends to the end portions of the rectangular frame.This may be done in any suitable manner as by welding'. It will be noted,that the rails I8 are disposed outermost and adjacently parallel theside portions on the frame structure I2-I2. Moreover, the rail membersIl and I8 are preferably of smaller size than the `'angle-bars formingthe rectangular frame.

As shown in Figure 3, the angle-bar Il is so disposed as to define ahorizontal ange IS'and a vertically disposed flange 2li, the latterflange being positioned at the outermost edge of the adjacent flange I5and paralleling the vertical flange Il' of the angle-bar member forminga side I2 of the frame structure. In this position the flange I9 extendsinwardly away from the vertical flange Il and is disposed below itsuppermost edge.

'I'he flange I9 forms a support for the ends for platforms such-as usedin trailers, skids, hand if 0f Wood flooring members 2l )which extendover the space between the flanges I4 and 20 and have their endsabutting the flange I 4.

For securing the ooring in position, a strip 22 is laid over the ends ofthe flooring members and secured in position by means of suitable bolts23 provided with nuts 24. By tightening the nuts 24, the strip 22 willcoact with the flange I9 to clampingly secure the flooring in position.v

Between the sides I2-I2, the flooring is supported by horizontallydisposed flanges of the rails I I--I'L As is customary in platforms ofthis type, it is desirable to provide pockets or sockets for removablyreceiving stakes which may be peripherally disposed around the platform.It will be appreciated that these pockets or sockets may be of anydesired shape, depending upon the shape of the stakes being used. In thepresent construction these pockets are, by way of example only, shown asbeing formed by U-shaped members 25 which are disposed in the spacebetween the anges I4 and 20, and welded or otherwise secured thereto aswell as to the flange I5, thus acting as reinforcing members to uniteand rigidify the frame sides.

When utilizing wooden flooring as shown in Figures l and 3, the strip 22and flooring above the U-shaped members 25 are cut out to provideentrances to the pockets or sockets to enable insertion therein of astake end. The bottoms of the pockets formed by the flange I areprovided with suitable drain openings 26, and ofl course the pocketforming members 25 act to strengthen the angle-bar flange in the regionof these openings.

The previous description discloses the use of our improved frameconstruction in platforms having a wood flooring. This frameconstruction is readily usable where it is desired to utilize a platformhaving a metal flooring rather than a wooden flooring. For such purpose,the rectangular framework is merely inverted, as shown in Figure 4, tobring the anges I 5-I5 upper most. In this case the flanges I5-I5 formthe support for the metal flooring and this flooring as indicated at 2lis secured in place'by suitable bolts 28. Where metal flooring isutilized, it is preferable to change the position of the rails Il-II sothat they have horizontal flanges engaging the under surface of theflooring. In this instance, access to the pockets for the stakes wouldbe obtained by cutting out portions of the metal flooring and flange I5above the members 25.

The improved frame construction may be provided with wheels and castersas shown in Figure 1 or, if desired, may be provided with skid legs 29as shown in Figure 6.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, casters 30 are shown as beingrotatably supported on bearing plates 3| suitably secured to a pair ofthe spaced rails of the frame.

At the other end of the frame the frame sides may be provided withdepending brackets 32 for supporting the respective ends of a shaft 33.Wheels 34-34 are rotatably supported on this shaft adjacent the framesides, the wheels being retained in spaced relation by means of asuitable spacing sleeve 35 surrounding the shaft id 3lirovided at itsends with abutment flanges Where a number of the trucks or platforms areto be connected as a train, the frame ends I 3I3 may be provided withany suitable type of coupling ilttings. In this instance eye plates 31are secured by welding or other suitable means to the vertical flange I4at the ends of the frame structure.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved platform construction embodying a novelframe constructed of light stock members in such a way as to provide anextremely strong rigid structure especially adapted to withstand impactand load forces a frame structure which may be easily adapted byinverting the frame for use with fioorings with different types; whichmakes use of standard stock materials which are reinforced andstrengthened in a novel manner by means of pocket forming members; andin which the parts are associated in such a way as to form a novelflooring support.

Now it is, of course, to be understood that although we have describedin detail the preferred embodiment of our invention, the invention isnot to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope andspirit of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a platform structure a side frame member of generally U-shapedcross-section with one leg of greater length than the other, and asubstantially right-angled flange projecting outwardly from the end ofthe short leg away from the long leg.

2. In a platform structure a side frame member of generally U-shapedcross-section with one leg of greater length than the other, and asubstantially right-angled flange projecting outwardly from the end ofthe short leg away from the long leg, and reinforcing members spacedalong said side frame member interconnecting said legs and securedthereto.

3. In a platform structure a side frame member of generally U-shapedcross-section with one leg f greater length than the other, asubstantially right-angled flange projecting outwardly from the end ofthe short leg away from the long leg, and pocket forming members spacedalong said side frame member interconnecting said legs and securedthereto.

4. In a platform construction, a preferable frame member of generallyU-shaped cross-section with one leg of the U of greater length than theother, a substantially right-angled flange projecting from the end ofthe short leg away from the long leg, a oor having a marginal portionextending across the open end of the U into abutting relation with thelong leg, said flange defining a supporting surface for said floor, astrap on the upper surface of said door, and means for clamping saidflange and strap to said floor.

5. In a platform construction, a preferable frame member of generallyU-shaped cross-section with one leg of the lU of greater length than theother, a substantially right-angled flange projecting from the end ofthe short leg away from the long leg, a floor having a marginal portionextending across the open end of the U Into abutting relation with thelong leg, said flange aeilning a supporting surface for said floor, astrap -on the upper surface of said floor, means for clamping saidflange and said strap to said floor, and pocket forming members belowthe floor extending between and secured to said legs.

6. In a platform construction, a f 'ame member of generallyfU-shapedcross-section with one leg of the U of greater length than the other, asubstantially right-angled flange projecting from the end of the shortleg away from the long leg, a floor having a marginal portion extendingacross the open4 end oi the U into abutting relation with face of saidfloor, means for clamping said strap and said floor to said flange, andreinforcing Axr'iembers below the floor extending between and secured tosaid legs.

7.*In a platform construction, a preferable frame member of generallyU-shaped cross-section with one leg of the U of greater length than theother, a substantially right-angled ange projecting from the end of theshort leg away from the long leg, a floor having a marginal portionextending across the open end of the U into abutting relation with` thelong leg, said ilange defining a 'supporting surface for said floor, astrap on the upper surface of said oor, means for clamping s aid flangeand said strap to said iioor, and pocket forming members below the oorextending between and secured to said legs, said floor and said straphaving cut out portions providing communication with said pockets.

8. In a platform structure having a frame member comprising a pair ofangle-bar members assembled .with one set of their legs vertical andtheir other set horizontal, the horizontal legs extending in the samedirection and the vertical legs` in opposed direction with the verticalleg oi onebar rigidly secured to the horizontal leg of the other toprovide a space between the vertical legs, the bars so assembled beingreversable as a; unit to selectively dispose the horizontal leg of onebar uppermost for providing a support for `one type of flooring,4 andthe horizontal leg of thenother bar uppermostfor providing a support fora different type of flooring.

9.V In a platform structure having a frame member ,comprising a pair ofangle-bar members as-4 sembled with one set of their legs vertical andtheir other set horizontal, the horizontal legs eX- tending in the samedirection and the vertical 25 in raised position.

legs in opposed direction with the vertical leg of onebar rigidlysecured to the horizontal leg of the other to provide a space betweenthe vertical legs. the bars so assembled being reversable as a unit toselectively dispose the horizontal leg of one bar uppermost forproviding a support for one type of ooring, and the horizontal leg ofthe other bar uppermost for providing a. support for a diierent type offlooring, and means secured to said frame member for supporting theframe HAROLD E. MILZ. JOHN J. SICHMAN.

